Latch actuating mechanism



umreo s'r res Patented Sept. 10, 1935 6 @las. (@11. 292-221) My invention relates to a latch actuating mechanism and particularly to a latch actuating mechanism for use in conjunction with a latch of the type shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 696,009, filed October 31, 1933, of which this application is a continuation in part, the latch parts, with the exception of the manually operable actuating mechanism constituting the subject matter of the present application, being common to both applications.

The following are objects of my invention:

First, to provide a latch actuating mechanism which will expose a comparatively 'large operating member to the operator with the view in mind of making it easy and convenient for an operator to use my latch without having to push a small button;

Second, to provide an actuating member which is suitable for carrying a legend or brand name;

Third, to provide a latch actuating mechanism which does not have any sharply protruding points;

Fourth, to provide a latch actuating mechanism which will have a safety catch so that the latch will not be tripped accidentally.

In general, to accomplish these objects, I provide a casing of cast metal which holds an actu ating member of bakelite or other suitable material and which engages an operating plunger midway of the keys length. The casing is provided with stops at its ends for the actuating member so that the same may not be depressed too far and is also provided with outward stops which prevent the actuating member from com ing out of the casing and which also serve as iul=- crum points when the actuating member is pushed at some point other than its mid-point. A more thorough understanding of my invention may be had by one skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying w which:

Fig. l. is a longitudinal cross section showing the latch actuating mechanism atached to a refrigerator structure, of which a portion of the side post is shown in section and a portion of the door in plan, and showing schematically the latch mechanism of my co-pending application, Serial No. 696,009.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my latch actuating mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view partially in side elevation, the safety catch being shown in looking position.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, the safety catch being shown in unlocking position.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figure l, a latch mechanism it is placed withina suitable recess it in the fixed frame l2 of a door it, the latter carrying a cooperating part it of the latch mechanism. This latch mechanism constitutes no part of my present invention and I do not, therefore, describe it in detail. It will sufiice that the latch mechanism will release the latch keeper member it upon depression of the detent member it.

In order to depress or actuate the detent member it, I have provided a plunger H, which is provided at its outer end with a knob it substantially in the form oi an acorn nut. This is held to the plunger ill, by screw threads and is secured by a lock nut as. To hold the plunger in outward position, a coiled spring 283 is provided which engages the lock. nut it, and abuts at its inner end against a yoke member 2t having an aperture 22 in its end through which the plunger passes and having outwardly oflset foot portions at the ends of its side legs which are seated in recesses h -2 t formed in the side walls of the latch casing 25. To engage this plunger, I provide an actuating member 26 made of balxelite or other suitable material. This actu: ating member is provided with an upraised portion 2? having a semi-spherical indentation 28 for engaging the knob is.

The actuating member is held by the casing 25 of cast metal, which is provided with an opening 29 for receiving the actuating member and with inturned lugs tit-3t at the respective upper and lower ends of the opening for engaging projecting portions ill-3t of the actuating member which extend under the lugs tit-3b in order to prevent excessive outward movement of the actuating member 25.

The casing 25 is provided with suitable flanges 32 and screw holes by which it may be secured to the door post it.

To prevent excessive inward movement of the actuating member a stop pin t l is pressed into a suitable tight fitting opening 35 in the casing. A decorative end member 35 is also pressed into a larger opening ill! in the upper end of the casmg.

To provide a stop at the other end of the actuating member, and also to provide a safety catch as will hereinafter appear,.a hexagonal slidable stop member 38 is provided having a groove 39 for engagement with a spring pressed ball stop 40 which operates within a suitable opening 4| in the casing extending at a right angle to the hexagonal passage 42 in which the stop member is slidably engaged. At its outer end, the spring 43, which presses against the ball 48, is furnished with an abutment by means of a plug 44, which is staked into the opening. The slidable stop member 38 is provided also with a second groove 45 over which is fitted a spring clip 46. The spring clip serves as a stop against excessive outward movement of the slidable stop member and has abutment against the casing.

The outer end of the slidable stop member is fitted by screw threads with a suitable knob, 41, for manual operation.

The slidable stop 38 also serves as a safety catch by reason of its extension when in inward position to engage an upraised nub, 48, formed integrally with the actuating member, 26. As

a support for the slidable stop 38, a pin 49 is provided which is pressed tightly into holes in the casing walls.

It will be seen that when the slidable stop 38 is in inward position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will engage the up-raised nub 48 of the actuating member, and it will be impossible to depress the actuating member so as to move the plunger l1. However, when the slidable stop 38 is withdrawn, as shown in Fig. 4, it will allow the actuating member to be depressed but at the same time will serve as a stop for the adjacent end of the actuating member against excessive inward movement.

In operation, the plunger I! will be pressed inwardly to trip the detent member l6 by pressing inwardly upon the actuating member at any point, that is by pressing at the center, or by pressing above or below the center in which case the actuating member will fulcrum about the lug 30 at the opposed end. The pin 34 and the stop ,member 38 limit the extent to which the actuating member may be pressed inwardly. As the springs exerting pressure against the actuating member may be extremely light it is only necessary to press very lightly on the actuating member to operate it, and as a relatively large surface of the actuating member is exposed its operation is made very easy and convenient. To look the actuating member so that it cannot be accidentally operated the stop member 38 is simply pressed in to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch actuating mechanism, a casing having an opening, an actuating member disposed in said opening and movable inwardly, a spring pressed plunger engaged at one end with the inner side of saidactuating member exerting outward pressure thereon and adapted at its other end to engage a latch member, and locking means movable between two operative positions adapted in one position to form an abutment against inward movement of said actuating member and in its other position to permit inward movement of said actuating member.

2. In a latch actuating mechanism, a casing having an elongated opening, an elongated actuated member disposed in said opening and movable inwardly, actuated member retaining means at the upper and lower ends of said opening, a spring pressed plunger engaged at one end substantially with the center of the inner side of said actuating member exerting outward pressure thereon and adapted at its other end to engage a latch member, said actuating member adapted upon being pressed above or below the 5 center to tilt inwardly about said retaining means at the respective lower or upper ends of said opening, and locking means movable between two operative positions adapted in one position to form an abutment against inward movement of said actuating member and in its other position to permit inward movement'of said actuating member.

3. In a latch actuating mechanism, a casing having an opening, an actuating member disposed 15 in said opening and movable inwardly, a spring pressed plunger engaged at one end with the inner side of said actuating member exerting outward pressure thereon and adapted at its other end to engage a latch member, stop means within said casing spaced inwardly from said actuating member, said stop means being movable be tween two operative positions adapted in one position to form an abutment against inward movement of said actuating member and in its other position to limit the inward movement to a predetermined distance.

4. In a latch actuating mechanism, a casing having an opening, an actuating member disposed in said'opening and movable inwardly, a 30 spring pressed plunger engaged at one end with the inner side of said actuating member exerting outward pressure thereon and adapted at its other end to engage a latch member, a projecting portion upon the inner side of said actuating member, stop means within said casing spaced inwardly from said actuating member, said stop means being movable between two operative positions adapted in one position to be aligned with said projecting portion to form an abutment 40 against inward movement of said actuating member and in its other position to be out of alignment with said projecting portion to limit the inward movement to a predetermined extent.

5. In a latch actuating mechanism, a casing 45 having an elongated opening, an elongated actuating member disposed in said opening and movable inwardly, retaining means at the upper and lower ends of said opening, a spring pressed plunger engaged at one end substantially with 50 the center of the inner side of said actuating member exerting outward pressure thereon and adapted at its other end to engage a latch member, stop means within said casing spaced inwardly from the upper and lower ends of said 55 actuating member adapted to limit the inward movement of said actuating member, one of said stops being movable between two operative positions adapted in one position to form an abutment against inward movement of said actuating 60 member and in its other position to limit the inward movement to a predetermined extent, said actuating member adapted in said last mentioned position of said movable stop upon being pressed above or below the center to tilt inwardly 65 about said retaining means at the respective lower or upper ends of said opening.

6. In a latch actuating mechanism, a casing having an elongated opening, an elongated actuating member disposed in said opening and movable inwardly, retaining means at the upper and lower ends of said opening, a spring pressed plunger engaged at one end substantially with the center of the inner side of said actuating member exerting outward pressure thereon and adapted at its other end to engage a latch mom benaproiectingportionupon theinnersideoi' said actuating member at one side oi the center. stop means within said sin: paced inwardly from the upper and lower ends of said actuating member adapted to limit the inward movement of said actuating member, one of said stops being movable between two operative positions adapted in one position to be aligned with said I projecting portion to form an abutment against member adapted in. said last mentioned position 01' said movable stop upon being pressed above or below the center to tiltinwardly about said retaining means at the respective lower or upper ends of said opening.

JOHN B. 10 

